Valid Expectations Colt Tops FT Texas Sale

Key statistics of gross and average held steady while the median improved.

The gross and average prices held steady, the median was up, and the buy-back rate declined at the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-olds in training sale held near Dallas March 30.

"Overall, I think it was a pretty strong sale," said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas. "I thought that we got a pretty good reaction from the consignors. When the buy-backs go down, that gives you an indication that they are doing good business.

"The median went up, so I’m pleased with that. Our average has been pretty steady for the last three years, so it shows we have become a solid market here despite the changing economy."

Fasig-Tipton reported 139 horses sold for $2,371,900, compared with 144 horses sold for $2,477,000 in 2009. The average was down slightly at $17,064 compared with last year’s $17,201, and the median improved from $9,650 in 2009 to $10,500.

The 53 horses that did not sell represented a buy-back rate of 27.6%, compared with 30.4% last year.

The sale was topped by the only horse to fetch a six-figure bid. The dark bay or brown son of perennial leading Texas sire Valid Expectations sold for $100,000 to Jerry Durant with a goal of pointing the Louisiana-bred toward the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park. After that, the horse will primarily compete in Louisiana-bred company.

The sale-topper was consigned by Al Pike’s Pike Racing, which purchased the colt for $40,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale.

"I honestly thought he’d bring a little more, but we are happy with the price," Pike said. "He’s going to a good stable, and I think they will do very well with him. He is eligible for all the money."

The colt, who worked :10, the co-second fastest time of the under-tack show March 28 at Lone Star, is out of the unraced Mr. Greeley mare Excellent Review, dam of three winners from three starters. His female family includes Closing Argument, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

A half brother to multiple stakes winner Classy Deelites sold for $90,000 to Coteau Grove Farms from the consignment of Inside Move Inc., agent, as the sale’s second-highest price. The son of Ruler's Court is a Louisiana-bred.

The top filly, a daughter of Leestown whose second dam is grade I winner Share the Fantasy, brought a bid of $77,000 from Carrol Castille.